onionbagblog

I’ve become fascinated by tidal charts. Early estuary mornings are being spent studying the ebb and flow of the Colne, second-guessing how high the Colne will creep up, and then confirming later with my reliable Harwich and East Coast Tide Tables (£1.20 from the lovely folk at Wivenhoe Bookshop, add on +25 minutes for the water levels to flow down to Wivenhoe.)

It’s an exact science for sure, but there’s still the thrill of seeing the water for the first time in the day, and being surprised as to how high or low the levels are as it flows back and forth along the North Essex estuary.

The highs, so to speak, so far have been the less than a metre width of the Colne that I’ve encountered down by The Hythe; on par with this has been the incredibly high tide I saw on Sunday afternoon, heading out along the Wivenhoe Trail upstream.

The low tide makes you think that the estuary is lame and that you can control it. I’ve heard many tales within the town of the folly of folk who become unstuck in the mudflats ahead of an attempt at walking across the Colne.

The high tide however is simply spectacular and demands your respect. We are blessed to be able to look out down the estuary towards Brightlingsea from our bedroom window each morning.

What I’m learning at this very early stage in our Essex adventure is the glory to be found locally in the lack of crossings. The Colne Causeway is the final firm footing crossing before the sea, and that’s positioned way back down towards The Hythe.

From here onwards and a great divide separates the folk of Wivenhoe and their estuary neighbours across the banks at Rowhedge. It is a friendly rivalry that leads to some light-hearted local suspicion.

From this side of the Colne and Rowhedge is viewed as a smuggler’s paradise. Our friends from across the water think of Wivenhoe as a town full of drunkards. The truth, but not the locals, meet somewhere in the middle.

Of course all of this is leading towards me finding a suitable entry point and tidal timing for my first estuary swim. Many locals have mentioned White House Beach on the old Brightlingsea railway line as my perfect landing point.

Recent events have brought home the respect that the estuary deserves. The mudflats, now rich with migrating birds from the East, also warns me that perhaps I should wait until springs starts to blossom around the banks of the Colne before I take my first dip.

Meanwhile I have 6th November as a diary date for some high time estuary SLR action. My ever reliable Harwich and East Coast Tide Table informs me that a seasonal high of almost five metres is expected around lunchtime.

Time and tide…